Tag Archives: Artisans

FG To Train 370,000 Artisans

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Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, said on Thursday that the Federal Government planned to train 370,000 artisans to boost skills development and employment generation.

 

 
Imoukhuede disclosed this during the inauguration of the Construction Skills Training and Empowerment Programme (C-STEmp) in Abuja.

 
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that C-STEmp, an initiative of J. Hausen Ltd, a construction management consultancy firm, is an accelerated skills development project to prepare eligible beneficiaries for employment as artisans in construction industry.

 

 
Imoukhuede, represented by Mr Ife Adebayo, Special Assistant on Production and Innovative, said the Federal Government also planned to employ 500, 000 graduates as teachers, to improve the educational system.

 
“The Federal Government has plans to train 370,000 artisans this year and to employ 500,000 graduates as teachers, because one of our key problems is on education.
“It has already been decided. We have had a fruitful discussion on it with the Vice President and relevant ministers and we are looking forward to working with the C-STEmp to achieve the goal.

 

 

The Presidential Aide said the job creation office developed a framework for job creation which included construction, agro-allied and Information Communication and Technology.
He, however, called for collaboration with the relevant government agencies and Public Private Participation to train more Nigerians in skill development.

 

 
Also speaking, Rev. Ugochukwu Chime, C-STEmp Chairman of Trustee, noted that the project would break the paradox of high unemployment and poverty in the midst of severe shortage of skilled manpower, which constrained the housing and construction industry from meeting demand for its products.

 
“This will be done done through a fast track intensive skills acquisition programme, using a combination of classroom, indoor and outdoor practical and a programmed apprenticeship period.

 

 
This, he said, would equip beneficiaries with sufficient skills, certification and reference, to enable them to gain employment in the housing and construction industry.
He said that the struggle for economic inclusiveness by the grassroots over the years in Nigeria was worsened by lack of education and competence in chosen profession.

 

 

“As a nation, our socio-economic ascendancy has been severely weighed down by years of neglect and near exclusion of this vital component of development agenda.”
He noted that the programme would empower unemployed and under-employed persons to fend for themselves and rise above their limited circumstances to achieve their potentials.
Chime, who is also the President, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), noted that curriculum, manuals and other vocational teaching resources would be used for the training.

 

 
He listed the courses to include concreting block laying and plastering, general construction, carpentry, steel fabrication, plumbing installation and maintenance and electrical installation and maintenance.

 

 
Others are tiling and decorative stone work, painting and decoration and site orientation and practice for building and engineering graduates.

 

 
NAN reports that the project is being supported by UK Aid, under the construction idea fund of the Growth and Employment in States (GEMs) project.

 

 
It is also collaborating with the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) and the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

 

 

(NAN)

Ministry Of Power, Works And Housing To Establish Training Schools For Artisans, Craftsmen

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The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing says it will establish Building Craft Training Schools in the six geo-political zones in the country for the training of artisans and craftsmen.

 

 

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Abubakar Magaji, stated this on Thursday at a one day stakeholders’ validation workshop on the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for the building trades.

 

 

Magaji was represented by the Director, Building and Quantity Survey Department in the ministry, Mrs Salma Mohammed.

 

 

The permanent secretary said there was urgent need to upgrade the skills and competencies of artisans and craftsmen, to enable them to meet the aspiration in the built industry.

 

 

“A well-articulated skills development plan for the building sector would empower and create employment opportunities for the idle youths.

 

“This would not only impact the economy positively, it would also improve the security situation in the country.

 

 

“To this end, this ministry is proposing the establishment of building craft training schools in each of the six geo-political zones in addition to the existing ones in Lagos, Abuja and Ikeduru, Imo State.’’

 

 

Magaji also said the ministry was collaborating with both local and foreign organisations for the training of artisans and craftsmen in order to acquire the National Occupational Standards.

 

 

He identified the organisations to include Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dangote Group of Companies, Lafarge Cement Plc and a U.S.-based Home Builders Institute.

 

 

The permanent secretary commended the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) for its effort in the accreditation and regulation of the building programmes in tertiary education institutions across the country.

 

 

He, however, urged CORBON to sustain its commitment to the development of the capacity of practitioners and collaboration with other professionals in the built sector.

 

 

“Government has noted with satisfaction the achievements of CORBON in the areas of accreditation for building programmes in the universities and polytechnics, regular registration and induction of eligible builders.

 

 

“Also worthy of commendation is your regular mandatory continuous professional development, and now the National Occupational Standards for the appropriate skills of building trades in Nigeria,’’ Magaji said.

 

 

Earlier, the Chairman of CORBON, Prof. Kabir Bala, said that the National Board for Technical Education had mandated the body to oversee the training and certification of artisans and craftsmen.

 

 

Bala explained that the NOS were subject to review every three years to accommodate the dynamism in the materials and construction industry.

 

 

“NBTE has mandated us to train and certify artisans and craftsmen under the National Vocational Qualification Framework, leading to licensing them for improved service delivery.

 

 

“We have, therefore, designed these workable NOS to address the industry challenges with respect to our collective needs.

 

 

“It is for stakeholders to digest and add value where desirable for the enhancement and improvement of quality delivery of our industry tradesmen.

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the validation exercise will cover selected construction industry trades such as carpentry, plumbing, masonry, electrical installations, steel fabrication as well as painting and decoration works.

 

 

 

(NAN)